| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 215 056 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
09.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/15 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
19.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/25 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 21.09.2001 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B60C 23/04 |
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
15.12.2000 JP 2000381802
31.05.2001 JP 2001163634
|
| (71) |
Applicant: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. |
|
Ogaki-shi, Gifu-ken 503-8603 (JP) |
|
| (72) |
Inventor: |
|
- Katou, Michiya
Ogaki-shi, Gifu-ken 503-8603 (JP)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Reinhard - Skuhra - Weise & Partner |
|
Friedrichstrasse 31
80801 München
80801 München (DE) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Apparatus and method for monitoring tire condition |
(57) A transmitter device (1-4) includes a rotational direction sensor (13) that generates
a specific pattern signal when a corresponding tire (T1-T4) rotates. The pattern signal
of the left tires (T1, T3) is different from the pattern signal of the right tires
(T2, T4). A front reception antenna (21) is near the front tires (T1, T2). A rear
reception antenna (22) is near the rear tires (T3, T4). A receiver (5) includes a
switch circuit (23) that selectively connects the front reception antenna (21) or
the rear reception antenna (22) to a controller (20). When one transmitter device
transmits a radio signal, the controller (20) determines which transmitter device
is the source of the radio signal in accordance with the level of the signals from
the reception antennas (21, 22) and the pattern signal, which is included in the data
transmitted by the transmitter device.